KILLADELPHIA #12
IMAGE COMICS
[This review was originally posted on Patreon.]
STORY: Rodney Barnes
ART: Jason Shawn Alexander
COLORS: Luis Nct
LETTERS: Marshall Dillon
EDITOR: Greg Tumbarello
COVER: Jason Shawn Alexander
VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Todd McFarlane with Luis Nct; Bill Sienkiewicz
36pp, Colors, 3.99 U.S.(January 2021)
Rated “M/ Mature”
“Burn Baby Burn” Part VI: “Endgame”
Killadelphia is an apocalyptic vampire and dark fantasy comic book series from writer Rodney Barnes and artist Jason Shawn Alexander and is published by Image Comics. At the center of this series is a police officer caught in a lurid conspiracy in which vampires attempt to rule Philadelphia, “the City of Brotherly Love.” Colorist Luis Nct and letterer Marshall Dillon complete Killadelphia's creative team.
Killadelphia focuses on James “Jim” Sangster, Jr., who comes home to Philly to deal with the final affairs of his recently murdered father, revered Philadelphia homicide detective, James Sangster, Sr. Not dead, but undead, the father joins the son, the chief medical examiner (Jose Padilla), and a rebellious vampire to lead the battle that saves Philly from the vampires. But that was just the first battle, and this is a war.
Killadelphia #12 (“Endgame”) opens in one of those neighborhoods (a.k.a. “gated communities”) where the well-to-do and rich white people go to avoid the riff raff. One such refuge from the refugees, however, can't keep all the … bad things out.
Meanwhile, James, Sr., Jimmy, and Ms. Padilla head out to the center of the vampire revolution. Now, they will see for themselves just how crazy Abigail Adams is.
Elsewhere, in the afterlife (so to speak). Tevin Thompkins has his own plans for the revolution. First, he needs to see the boss. He needs to see “Corson.”
THE LOWDOWN: The second story arc of Killadelphia, “Burn Baby Burn,” comes to an end, but it ends on a cliffhanger. This is as it should be, if you think about it.
Writer Rodney Barnes has revealed that what we thought to be a rather straight-forward concept is rather complex. Like blood splatter, Killadelphia's plots and subplots go all over the place, but it is a narrative with purpose. This is a world beyond the narrow confines of the world-beating ambitions of would-be vampire gods and monsters. I don't want to be one of those readers who are always saying, “This is the best issue ever!” Still, if each issue isn't better than its predecessor, then, each issue certainly expands the “Killa-verse,” making it all the more alluring. Killadelphia #12 is the best and boy, does it ever expand the undead playing field.
For Killadelphia #12, Jason Shawn Alexander's storytelling is no one thing. Pages seven and eight show the Sangsters and Padilla in a quiet moment of discussion and planning, but a feeling of intensity infuses the moment. A short scene between Tevin and is grandmother is sweet, but without a hint of anything extra – neither irony nor weirdness. However, the opening pages, with their comeuppance of the gated communities, is fun, crazy, and righteous.
Luis Nct's colors are like traffic lights and signals directing our emotions, imaginings, and feelings in specific directions. Marshall Dillon's lettering is our driver, and he takes us to places where our minds will love the fire. Killadelphia #12 reveals that “burn, baby, burn” is not necessarily a bad thing, especially when we get a cliffhanger leading to the next arc instead of only ashes. Killadelphia #12 establishes this series as a top five comic book, without a doubt.
I READS YOU RECOMMENDS: Fans of vampire comic books and of exceptional dark fantasy will want Killadelphia.
10 out of 10
[This comic book includes an “Afterword” by Rodney Barnes.]
Killadelphia #12 has a backup feature:
“Elysium Gardens” Part 5 “Cry Havoc”
Story: Rodney Barnes
Pencils/Gray Tones: Jason Shawn Alexander
Inks: Bill Sienkiewicz
Layouts: Sherard Jackson
Letters: Marshall Dillon
Edits: Greg Tumbarello
The back-up feature, “Elysium Gardens,” has returned to its “present day.” In the wake of their encounter with Malcolm X, Angela/Zubiya and her pack of werewolves go on the attack, but even they know their limits. If they want to use their curse as a key to “Black Liberation,” they need to know more about its origins. Brother Jabir knows where they need to go, and it is a familiar place.
Part 4's appearance of Malcolm X was shocking and an utter delight. Part 5 offers beloved comic book master artist, Bill Sienkiewicz, as a contributor, as an inker, to this chapter. It is the right time for a legend to show up, as the flow of this narrative makes its first great change of direction.
https://twitter.com/TheRodneyBarnes
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https://twitter.com/luisnct
https://twitter.com/MarshallDillon
https://twitter.com/ImageComics
https://imagecomics.com/
http://rodneybarnes.com/
Reviewed by Leroy Douresseaux a.k.a. "I Reads You"
The text is copyright © 2021 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for reprint and syndication rights and fees.
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